New Flybarless System

[SpeedVision]

Yes, better safe than sorry. We'll live. Is the firmware upgrade just to improve vib resistance??

I had great fun flying 8 packs in my Mini Titan today. Still need to tinker, but getting very close to perfecting my initial setup...

My earlier posted tipping problem was most likely a result of a BAD TAIL SHAFT and not the fault of the SK. I rebuilt the tail and ass-u-med the new tail shaft was true, but it wasn't.

When I was trying to replicate the swash tilt on the bench (no blades) I noticed the tlt (looked more like the swash was dancing...). I touched the SK while spooled up and it was buzzing like crazy. No way it could have done its job under this circumstance. Since everytkhing in the tail was new, I started to wonder it the vibe was normal or not. Everything was balanced to .01 grams and the tail shaft was "new". Anyway, swapped out the most likely candidate and sure enough, now everything was smooth as silk. Phew.:Bang

Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. Was pretty windy today and it was really cool to see the heli adjust when hit by a wind gust... Pretty cool stuff.

[hamslice]

Apologies, the firmware update testing isn't going as quick as I'd have thought. It will be out at some point in the next few days, and a notice will be posted here. Safer to not rush it.

The improvement to vib resistance is such that you've been having any problems at all it's probably a good idea to wait for the update before flying again.

no problem. my 600 is getting jealous though. it keeps staring at me when i grab my 450 and 500 off the wall and leave it there.

[Duke600]

I am still waiting for my backordered unit! Any Idea when current backordered units will ship? I got a T500 ready and waiting.

[hamslice]

i think they expect them in on the 16th but i may be wrong.

[hamslice]

any news on the firmware update?

[Ludde]

any news on the firmware update?

Yes... WHEN???? :-) home in about 24 hours.. .ready to rock.-..

[mjr_larkin]

So anyone getting the hang of this gyro and is happier with it than without it?

[SpeedVision]

So anyone getting the hang of this gyro and is happier with it than without it?

Interesting question. I take it the few initial speed bumps we've run over would lead some to believe that it has tainted the concept or the product. For those that are developing that opinion, the strongly urge you to understand that virtually all the variables are created by the end user and not the SK gyro.

With the exception of the "failure to initialize when frozen" issue, all of my problems have been self-induced (mechanically and intellectually). By the way, when the cold issue was discovered we had a software patch for diagnosis within a few days and I (we) had replacement units sent out shortly there after. 100% satisfied with service and support.

As I've stated before, process control is about eliminating variables. Head geometry and mechanics in general are variables that Skookum and others can't control nor can they help someone that doesn't have the patience, discipline or mechanical inclination to integrate a powerful system. Think of all the thousands of posts dealing with GY401 and Logictech 2100 gyros. If you haven't mastered your tail gyro, forget about flybarless...for now.

In spite of Skookum's suggestion to stay grounded until the firmware update, I have been flying without incident and the SK-360 has performed as touted. (keeping in mind that I am a sport flyer for now)

With that said, I have burned my flybar. I am liberated and free.:YeaBaby:

I couldn't be more happy with it and don't plan to live without it.

With Rotorworkz offering a Flybarless option for their G5, the flood gates are about to let loose. I'm ready are you?:cheers

[hamslice]

i would say that i am happier at the moment on ditching the flybar. i have had only one problem and that was the random elev kicks. i do not believe that this is skookum's fault. my helicopter was flying good in between the kicks. i feel that once this issue has been worked out that all of my helis will be flybarless from now on. i have stayed grounded till the firmware update is available and am optimistic that it will help. once there are special built flybarless heads available with the proper geometry and some purpose built blades the flybarless transition will be much easier.

[WhirlingBladesOfDeath]

So anyone getting the hang of this gyro and is happier with it than without it?As with lbcynya and hamslice, I was pretty happy with mine when it was flying. ;) I had a tipping issue during my third flight, though I'm not 100% sure if it was the SK or a mechanical failure on my part. For now I've decided to just wait until the next batch of units are available. But after the crash, I went ahead and built it back up ready for the SK, and there it sits flybarless and ready to go!

As for setting up the SK, I don't know if I was just lucky, but it flew fine with the 3D setup file without any tweaking on my part. I didn't have a chance to start playing with the settings, but I definitely had a solid starting point. For all my noob 3D / sport flying stuff, it worked like a champ. I'm really excited to get back to flying it and playing with the settings some more.

On a sort of side note, what is the 4th channel on the SK for? Would it be possible at some point to use it to toggle between 2 setups in flight? Maybe 1 setup for normal, and another for crazy 3D. :) I dunno, just thinking out loud.

Thanks,
Jason

[Danish Heliflyer]

Mine works flawless on my Trex600N. Tomorrow i will take some screens shots of my setup, if that can help enybody. The bird is wild..

[Skookum]

Hey All,

Just a note to say that things are looking good for a firmware release for later tonight.

>On a sort of side note, what is the 4th channel on the SK for? Would it be possible at some point to use it to toggle between 2 setups in flight?

Yup, it might be possible for a future update, but it'd have to be looked in to. Currently that 4th output is for 4-servo swashes but it could act as a low-resolution input as well.

[hamslice]

cool, cool:Bang

[Skookum]

Hey All,

Ok, the updates are posted to the website.

One note, Fireup's right about the amount of cyclic pitch range, 10 degrees is the way to go. I've been experimenting, and with 8 deg, in high speed forward flight with sudden hard collective, the gyro can use up all its available throw on some helis, resulting in "blowing out" with the nose going up. If you were using negative collective pitch and went suddenly hard negative, it would "blow out" the other way.

It's a case of overwhelming the gyro's available response, just as we've probably all had seen happen with the tail. So the manual doesn't say it yet, but +-10 degrees of cyclic will expand the safe zone. If it still happens on hard maneuvering and makes a loud "BdddWaaP" sound, that's blade stall, and well, that's just the aerodynamic facts of life.

[SpeedVision]

Super!!! Thanks for the hard work and the support! Looking forward to continuing the realtime learning and tuning.

[Ludde]

well I tested it today and it was better, didnt get any tip tendencys at takeoff :-)
but it still drift slowly to the right and backwords, also tail drag compensation was to much both going up and going down..

Dont know why it still drifts..

[SpeedVision]

well I tested it today and it was better, didnt get any tip tendencys at takeoff :-)
but it still drift slowly to the right and backwords, also tail drag compensation was to much both going up and going down..

Dont know why it still drifts..

Did you try to use triim to remove the drift?

[hamslice]

well i got it in the air and it flew great. two flights a little adjusting on the dials and i think i got it. best of all.


NO TIPPING NOT EVEN ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:Bang

[Ludde]

Did you try to use triim to remove the drift?

no acctually.. didnt think of that.. must be the heat..

will try that.. but that will be back to zero every boot of the sk360, at the end I will run out of trim.

[SpeedVision]

will try that.. but that will be back to zero every boot of the sk360, at the end I will run out of trim.

Haha. I didn't think of that either... I guess you could uncheck "auto trim"... Would have to see which makes more sense and what issues arise...

[Skookum]

> Dont know why it still drifts..

If "hiller decay" is set to 100% then the gyro can't totally trim out the heli (any trim is constantly decaying). Things like rotor blast on the tail boom could make it drift back, etc.

So Ibcynya's solution is a decent one then, just unclick auto-trim so you can use transmitter trims. Either that or try lowering Hiller Decay. I tend to prefer it at around 40% or so.

Re the "tail drag compensation", if people want to be able to adjust that, the fields could be exposed in the setup software.

[chichisport]

I think it will be needed ,any heli must require different drag compensation ,or not??

[Ludde]

> Dont know why it still drifts..

If "hiller decay" is set to 100% then the gyro can't totally trim out the heli (any trim is constantly decaying). Things like rotor blast on the tail boom could make it drift back, etc.

So Ibcynya's solution is a decent one then, just unclick auto-trim so you can use transmitter trims. Either that or try lowering Hiller Decay. I tend to prefer it at around 40% or so.

Re the "tail drag compensation", if people want to be able to adjust that, the fields could be exposed in the setup software.


yes.. will try that tomorrow.. (damn typos) YES tail drag coff value whould be nice.. :-) to adjust.. and 40?? im up in like 60 or so.. using the dials.. .. might just turn em down alot and lower hiller decay in another test in itntervalls of 20% or so..

soo isnt hiller decay almost the same as hiller gain?

[Ludde]

consider this.. with paddles.. they kinda do the work of keppin your bird stright.. slow and humid..
remove em and u will gain that power they recuire... but.. your blades will then need to do that work and therefore use alot more power than on a paddle bird.. hence a steady hovering flybarless bird will be alot more powerfull than an steady hovering paddle bird.. until u move the sticks.. its like this.. if its to good to be true.. its probablly not true..

I guezz it got more power until u try to move it.. the 10-20% is just dreams.. sometimes.. 5% maybee.. but heey.. its cool :-)

[otisflies]

Flew my Mikado 500 with the SK360 for the first time today without incident. Definitely a different feel but better. Using the out of the box 3d settings worked fine although the roll rate needs an increase. Even in the windy conditions which made trimming and testing impossible the heli handled very well and did nothing unexpected. It also made a very quiet heli even more quite. Amazing how much noise that flybar made. Doubt I'll ever go back to a flybar now. Thanks Skookum!